Railway signal-relay.



0. W. COLEMAN, DEG'D.

K. OOLEMAN, ADMIHISTRATRIX. V

RAILWAY SIGNAL RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1908.

Patented July 1, 1913.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 1.

- I IWMQWZ'IOT' U. W. COLEMAN, DEGVD. 1c. GOLEMAN, ADMINISTBATRIX.

RAILWAY SIGNAL RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1908.

i Patented July 1, 1913.

5 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@91 FQJ UNITED STATES PATENT onmon CLARENCE W. COLEMAN, OF WESTFIELD,NEW JERSEY; KATHERINE COLEMAN, ADMIN- ISTRATRIX 0F SAID CLARENCE W.COLEMAN, DECEASED,'ASSIGNOR TO THE HALL SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFMAINE.

RAILWAY SIGN AL-RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1-, 1913.

Application filed September 2, 1908. Serial No. 451,346.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. Conn- MAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Westfield, in the county ofUnion and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and usefulIrn ovement in Railway Signal-Relays, of w ich the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings,forming part thereof.

My invention relates to electric relays, particularly for railwaytraffic-controlling or signaling systems.

The object of my invention is to produce a relay adapted for operationby means of alternating or other periodic electric currents,particularly in connection with electric traffic-controlling systems forcontrolling the signals or other traific-controlling devices ofrailways, in which periodic currents are used in the track circuits orother train cont-rolled circuits, and to produce a the vicinity of theloop-shaped conductor in tor, and this tendency is utilized to move thearmature and actuate the circuit-controlling devices carried thereby.

More specifically, the invention resides in the use, in combination withan armature provided with a loop-shaped conductor, of

a field member [provided with an energizing a core 2 of iron or othermagneticmaterial winding locate at one side of said conductor and withpole pieces formed and arbodiments of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and will thereafter point out my invention inclaims.

In the drawings Figure is a rear elevation of a relay embodying thepresent in- .vention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the relay on theline ww in'Fig. 1, looking from left to right. Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticre resentation of a portion of a railway tra c-cont-rolling system inwhich the relay of Figs. 1 and 2 is used. Figs. 4 and 5; are,respectively, a rear elevation and a vertical section, of a portion ofan armature of modified form for use in connection with the relay ofFigs. 1 and 2. Fig 6 is a diagrammatic, representation of a portion ofan electric system in which relays are employed having armatures such asthat of Figs. 4 and 5.

My improved relay, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises, generally,a ringshaped conductor constituting a portion of a pivoted armature, anda fieldmagnet for actuating this conductor. The armature conductor, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a continuous fiat ring 1 of copperor other highly-conductive material, which is fixed to or integral withan arm 7. The arm is pivoted upon a horizontal axis upon posts 8projecting from a base plate 9, so that theringl may receive a motionwhich, throughout its short amplitude, is approximately a motion oftranslation in a direction "perpendicular to the plane of the ring 1.The ring land the arm 7 constitute the armature of the relay.

The field member of the relay comprises which projects at one end intothe ring 1, a

shell 5 of which one end 6 substantially surrounds the ring 1, and ayoke portion 4 which connects the core and the pole piece. The core,shell and yoke are represented as of integral structure, except that theend piece 6 of the shell is made separate and removable to facilitatethe construction. The core and the shell closely embrace the ring 1, buthave sufficient clearance to permit the ring to move in the manner abovedescribed. The field is energized by a coil 8 of insulated wire locatedbetween the core and the shell and wholly at one side of the armaturering 1. The terminals of this coil are connected with binding posts 10mounted on the base 9.

As the coil 3 is energized by alternating or other periodic currentsprovision is made for the prevention of eddy currents in the fieldmagnet by slot-ting the shell, yoke and core, as illustrated at 39 inFigs. 1 and 2, and the shell is also recessed to admit the arm 7 of thearmature. Apart from these insubstantial interruptions the shell andcore closely embrace the entire circumference of the armature ring. 7

The core and the shell are magnetized by current flowing in the fieldcoil, in such a manner that the free end of the core and the adjacentinner circumference of the end 6 of the shell constitute magnetic poles.Between these poles a powerful magnetic field is formed, constitutinglines of magnetic force which are concentrated in planes connecting thepoles and parallel to the plane of the armature ring. A portion of themagnetic lines also connect the poles in curved lines passing outside ofthe space between the poles.

Since the current in the field coil is periodic in character themagnetic field fluctuates. A part of the magnetic lines pass beyond oroutside of, that is, in Fig. 2, to the right of, the armature ring, thuspassing axially through the armature ring so as to be interlinkedtherewith, and as these lines fluctuate in strength they induceelectromotive force in the armature ring resulting in rotative currentstherein. Another portion of the magnetic lines pass radially through thebody of the ring, and these, acting in conjunction with the induced'currents in the ring, cause the ring to be repelled from the field inFig. 2.

Contact fingers are mounted on the armature in the ordinary manner inorder to utilize the relay to control electric circuits. Two suchfingers 11, are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, mounted on posts 12 ofinsulating; material. These fingers are provided with contact springs 13which engage the front contacts 15 and the back contacts 14: of therelay. The weight of the contact fingers imparts a bias to the armaturewhich causes magnet, or to the right tacts 14 when the field coil isdeenergized.

l/Vhen the field coil is energized by a periodic current the springsengage the front contacts 15. i

The back contacts are mounted in grooves in a block 16 of insulatingmaterial fixed to the base plate 9, and are connected with binding posts17; The front contacts are carried by overhanging arms 18 mounted ingrooves in blocks 19 of insulating material, and are connected withbinding posts 20. The contact fingers are connected, by flexible Wires21 with terminal blocks 23 also mounted in grooves in the blocks 19 andconnected with binding posts 22.

The relay hereinbefore described may be utilized in various ways inrailway-traffic controlling systems. In the arrangement illustrated inFig. 3, it is used to control railway signals. In this system the rails26 are continuously bonded except that at each signal station one of therails is interrupted by an insulating joint. At each station is atransformer 27 energized by a suitable alternating current generator 28and connected, at its secondary terminals, with the two railsrespectively, by wires 29 and 30. At each station is a relay, of whichthe field is indicated generally by the reference number 25, and theterminals of the field coils are connected to the opposite track rails.One contact finger and one front contact 15 of each relay are connectedin a local branch of the circuit of the generator 28, in series with theelectric motor or controlling mechanism of a signal 32 which has anormal bias to danger position. The track is traversed in a westerlydirection by trains, as indicated by the arrow 31. The two stationsillustrated, designated as A and B respectively, are typical stations,and in the normal condition of the apparatus current from thetransformer 27 at B flows normally through a circuit embracing the twotrack rails and the field coil of the relay at A, and thus the relay atA is normally energized, the local signal circuit at A is normallyclosed, and the signal at A is held clear. The signals at B and eachsucceed-- ing station are also normally held clear by current flowingfrom the next stations to the west. f

If a train enter the block between A and B the wheels and axles act toshort-circuit the relay at A, which is accordingly denergized. Thearmature thereupon opens the local signal circuit and the signal goes todanger position. The same thing occurs at B when the train passes intothe block to the west of B, while the signal at A is again cleared assoon as the relay at A is rce'nergized.

The relay of the present invention is particularly adapted for use inconnection with traffic-controlling systems for railways notonly onaccount of its sensitiveness to comparatively feeble currents such asare'used for the sake of economy, in such systems, but also because,owing to the absence of iron or other magnetic material in the armature,the relay is absolutely inert, ex-

While the hereinbefore described arrange-- ment of the relay, in whichthe relay is sensitive to variations of current in the field magnet, isthe preferred embodiment of my invention, particularly where the relayis used in traffic-controlling systems for railways, the arrangement maybe modified, without departure from the invention in-its broaderaspects, by using a constantly ener gized field and controlling theoperation of the relay by controlling the flow of induced currents inthe armature. In this arrangement it is necessary to employ an armaturein which the circuit followed by the induced currents may be opened andclosed. An armature of this character is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.Here a coil of insulated wire takes the place of the solid copper ringof Figs. 1 and 2, and this coil is fixed by means of suitable bindingmaterial 34, to lugs 35 at the lower end of the arm 7. The terminals 36of the coil are carried up the arm and may be connected with suitablebinding posts.

In a relay of the modified form above described, if the field beconstantly energized with a periodic current no efiect will be producedon the armature so long as the terminals of the armature coil aredisconnected, since no induced currents can flow through the armaturecoil, but if the armature terminals be connected, through a suitablecontrolling circuit, the armature will be at once moved as the result ofthe currents induced in the armature and its controlling circuit.

My relay, arranged as last described, may be used in traffic-controllingsystems and in other connections, and in Fig. 6 is illustrated a systemin which a signaling current is to be repeated from point to point alonga line. Three stations are illustrated, designated as A, B and C. Thearmature circuit of the relay at A is controlled by a key 38, while thefield 25 is constantly energized by a transformer 27 fed by a suitablegenerator-28. The armature circuit of the irelay at B is controlled bythe. contact finger and a front contact 15 of the relay at A,

the armature circuit of the relay at C is controlled similarly by therelay at B, and .so on throughout the system. The field magnets of therelays at B and C are constantly energized in the same manner as in thecase .of the relay at A. If now the key 38 be operated to close itscircuit the armature of the relay at A will be at once actuated and willclose the armature circuit of the relay at B, which will in turn closethe armature circuit of the relay at C and so on.

While I have described my improved relay as particularly applicable toand useful in connection with railway-traflic controlling systems itwill be apparent that it may be used in various other connections, andin general, various modifications may be made in the embodiment of'myinvention hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings within the nature of the invention and the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A relay comprising an armature provided with a conductoradapted toconstitute a closed path for periodic currents and having a loop-shapedportion, a field member having an inner pole-piece extending within andarranged in close proximity to the loop-shaped portion of the conductorand a shell having an annular winding-containing space and an outerpole-piece circumferentially surrounding the loop-shaped portion of theconductor, and awinding for magnetizing the pole-pieces arranged withinthe winding-containing space wholly at one side of the loop-shapedportion of the conductor and of the outer pole-piece, whereby the fieldmember is adapted to generate a field of magnetic lines of force ofperiodic character including flux lines extending along substantiallyall radiiof the ringshaped conductor and substantially in the planethereof and including other flux lines extending substantially in axialdirection through said conductor so as to induce circulatory periodiccurrents therein adapted to re-act on said radial flux lines.

2. A relay comprising an armature provided with a conductor adapted toconstitute a closed path for periodic currents and having a loop-shapedportion, a field memtaining space and an outer pole-piececircumferentially surrounding the loop-shaped portion of the conductorand extending across the winding-containing space of the field memberfrom the shell to within-closeproximity of the loop-shaped portion ofthe In testimony whereof I have afiixed my conductor, and a Winding formagnetizing signature in presence of two Witnesses.

the pole-pieces arranged Within the Wind- CLARENCE W. COLEMAN.ing-containing space Wholly at one side of Witnesses: 5 the loop-shapedportion of the conductor ALBERT V. T. DAY,

and of the outer pole-piece. BERNARD COWEN.

